Sen. Santana on DHHS Announcement to Move Youth From Shawono Center in Grayling to the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center 

LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 24, 2025) — Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) issued the following statement on the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services announcement today that it will move youth from the Shawono Center juvenile justice facility in Grayling to the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center. Sen. Santana is Chair of the Senate DHHS budget subcommittee, was a member of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, and continues to advocate for improvements to the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

“I believe that moving these youth is the best course of action. The facility they’re currently housed at is facing significant staffing challenges, which impacts the level of supervision and programming these youth require. Moving them closer to their home communities not only resolves these staffing challenges but also provides better access to resources and rehabilitation programs. This is a necessary step to give these youth the structure and services they need. I look forward to working with the department and the Macomb Juvenile Justice Center to ensure a smooth transition for the youth and that the staff at the Shawono Center will be offered a position at the new facility or within state government.”